Back to School information

Mon, 08/24/2020 - 8:52am

August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

Dear BBMS Families,

We hope to see you next week for MATERIALS DROP OFF on August 26, 27 & 28.  Thank you for getting items back to us promptly so we can "quarantine" those materials, inventory them, and get them re-distributed to students for the 2020-2021 school year.  Families will soon be able to access student schedules through your family file.  Please note that our staff has worked extremely hard this summer to create a schedule based a 4-period day which is very different from the traditional 7-period model we've used in the past.  Students will only have 4 classes each quarter; which limits any changes that we can make.  Our goal was to provide students with a balanced schedule, small class sizes, while adhering to A and B house designations in the event that students return to school in a Hybrid Model.  Keeping classes as small as possible helps students get more attention and support from teachers where they can ask questions and be interactive while online.  We hope you realize that any requests to change classes will be heard, but that all requests may not be possible due to these issues.

This year our PTA has a goal of increasing support for families in need of tutoring.  This will include sharing resources in our community, providing opportunities for parents to volunteer, and connecting with other programs offered through high schools and colleges.  Please consider joining our PTA and being a part of this support "web".  We want all parents to know that our PTA is open to everyone and that they are just a phone call or email away if you have questions or need guidance.  BBMS is lucky to have a strong PTA who looks out for each other.

Now, please look below at the items on your "to do" list... are you ready?  Have you been marking these items down?  Do you know what is happening and when?  We hope so!  But, if you are feeling the pressure of back to school, don't worry.  We are here to help you.  So, take a deep breath.  Relax.  And we will all get through this together.

Be well.  Stay safe.  And... GO SHARKS!

Drew Cockley
Principal

 

  • FAMILY FILE - ALL FAMILIES:  please update your Emergency Card Information here:  https://www.hcpss.org/connect/
    • Click the "Login" bar and update your family information.  Everyone needs to go in and do this, even if all your information is the same.  Thank you!
       

 

  • Meet the BBMS Administrative Team and Ask Questions:
    • Yes, any questions you have!  We want to help you get ready for this year!  Feel free to drop in, say “hi”, ask a question and go.  Or, stay for the whole hour – the choice is yours!
    • When:  Wednesday, August 26 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
    • Google Meeting Code:
    • Meeting ID  meet.google.com/toq-jcbc-ifq
    • Phone Numbers  (‪US)‪+1 812-727-7707  PIN: ‪130 189 156#

       

  • Virtual New Student Orientation and 6th Grade Orientation:  September 3, 2020 from 1:15 – 3:15pm
    • All new students and their parents are invited to an orientation on September 3, 2020.  We will meet as a large group (virtually) using Google Meet.  Codes will be shared with parents and students next week.  We will have small group break outs based on homerooms – so please review your student schedules to see who your child’s homeroom teacher is for this year.  An alphabetical list will be sent to you with meeting codes as a way for you to double check those placements.  Students will meet other students, 8th grade student leaders, and staff.  While students are in small group meetings, we will hold a separate meeting for parents as a Q&A.  We ask that parents attend this meeting, while students are in their homeroom meetings.
       

 

 

 

MATERIALS DROP OFF & PICK UP INFORMATION (see below):

 

Do you have HCPSS materials to RETURN/PICKUP?

How and when do I return items? 

We have designated three days to collect items AND pick up yearbooks:

  • Wednesday, August 26 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 am.
    • Rising 7th grade families
  • Thursday, August 27 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
    • Rising 8th grade families
  • Friday, August 28 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
    • Rising 9th grade families
  • **Please contact us if you cannot make the assigned times.  We will work with you to find a time for you to drop off materials and/or pick up student yearbooks

The information contained below is primarily for our rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade families and students who attended Bonnie Branch (BBMS) last year.  If your child attended a different HCPSS school last year, including our new 6th grade students, we kindly ask that you visit that school’s website to view their collection plan.

 

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Attention rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade families and students who attended Bonnie Branch (BBMS) last year:  Please read the information below regarding dropping off materials your child still has at home from the 2019-2020 school year.  Before we can issue Chromebooks, instruments, and other materials for this upcoming school year, we need to collect all items students are holding from 2019-20.  

 

Below is our drop-off schedule and procedures for returning materials. Further, during the drop-off process, it is critical that students and families maintain all social distancing practices, wear masks and remain in your cars.   We look forward to seeing ALL of our rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students and their families next week!

 

Does your child have items from last school year that need to be returned? 

Most students have novels from their ELA class, some have media center books, and others have instruments and other items. Please encourage your child to gather those items as it’s time to return them!  These items need to be collected next week to give us time to prepare for the distribution of new materials for the 2020-21 school year.

 

How and when do I return items? 

We have designated three days to collect items:

  • Wednesday, August 26 from 8:00-11:00 am.
    • Rising 7th grade famiies
  • Thursday, August 27 from 8:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m.
    • ​​​​​​​Rising 8th grade families
  • Thursday, August 28 from 8:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m.
    • ​​​​​​​Rising 9th grade families

 

Who should return items?

We are collecting items that belong to Bonnie Branch, so only students who attended Bonnie Branch last year should return items.  We will not take responsibility for items returned to us that belong to another HCPSS school.

 

What items should be returned?

  • Instruments:
    • If your child has an instrument that belongs to Bonnie Branch and will remain in band/orchestra this upcoming school year at Bonnie Branch he/she should keep the instrument. 
    • If your child is not returning to Bonnie Branch this school year, instruments should be returned. 

 

  • Chromebooks (laptops)
    • If your child has Chromebook and will remain in HCPSS (at Bonnie Branch or any HCPSS school) this upcoming school year, he/she should keep the Chromebook.  
    • If your child is not returning to HCPSS this school year, Chromebooks should be returned. 

 

  • Books and other items:
    • All books, ELA novels, and media center books that belong to Bonnie Branch should be returned.
    • Any other items that belong to Bonnie Branch should be returned.

 

What if my child did not attend Bonnie Branch last year and has materials to return?

We can only accept items from BBMS.  If you have items from another HCPSS school (elementary or middle), you will need to return those items to the school your child attended last year.  Information on elementary school days should be posted on their websites.  If your child attended another middle school, please visit to that school’s website to view their collection plan. If you need assistance, please contact Kelli Nitsch, Assistant Principal,  who will be happy to help you.

 

What safety precautions are in place to protect families and school staff during drop-off?

During the drop-off process, it is critical that students and families maintain all social distancing practices, wear masks, and remain in their cars at all times. If walking to the school, you must wear a mask while on school property and ensure proper social distancing from staff members. We ask that everyone follows the directions of the staff members present during drop off to ensure everyone's safety.

 

How will the drop-off operate?

It is important that families follow the following guidelines so that materials can be properly collected, inventoried, and prepared for redistribution:

  • Place all materials to be returned to BBMS in any type of bag labeled with your child’s first and last name (the bag will not be returned to you.)
  • Include a “Returned Materials Form” in the bag. This form can be printed and completed, or you can simply write the information on a sheet of paper.
  • Please enter the parking lot, and follow the established traffic pattern and drop-off stations when you arrive.   
    • Station 1: Drop off instruments
    • Station 2: Drop off books (from ELA class, media center, etc.)
    • Station 3: Drop off Chromebooks and any other LEMS-issued items

 

I have questions. Who should I contact?

If you need assistance, please contact Kelli Nitsch, Assistant Principal, who will be happy to help you.